Prospective Students

Applicants who identify themselves as having a disability during the admissions process
are considered for admission on the same competitive basis as other applicants. The
Coordinator of Student Access Services, in the Office for Student Academic Services,
is available to talk with prospective students with disabilities. Students and their
parents should bear in mind that Skidmore has no formal disabilities program. The
Coordinator of Student Access Services acts as a resource for students who believe
that they require modifications and/or accommodations on campus and in the classroom.
If a student anticipates requesting academic accommodations at Skidmore, they should
be prepared to provide documentation confirming the presence of a specific disability
and demonstrating its impact on academic and/or other areas of college functioning.
It is important to note that accommodations given in high school, either by a 504
plan on IEP, do not automatically carry over into college.

After enrolling, all students receive a copy of Applying for Accommodations/Services
at Skidmore College. Students with a documented disability are invited to complete
the application and return it with necessary documentation to the Coordinator of Student Access Services.
Documentation is reviewed to determine if the student meets ADA and Skidmore College
eligibility criteria for identification as "a student with an educational disability."
If the student's documentation is conclusive, the Coordinator will work with the student
to determine which requested accommodations are reasonable for the college setting.
First-year students with disabilities attend individual or small group meetings with
the Coordinator of Student Access Services, typically during the first few weeks of
classes, where accommodation letter and other services and supports are discussed
in detail. Students will then give the accommodation letters to their faculty. As
at all colleges, the success of disabilities support at Skidmore depends significantly
on the student's willingness and ability to seek the help they need and to follow
through with academic and other recommendations.

In addition to the more specialized assistance available in the Office of Student
Academic Services, Skidmore provides an excellent range of support services for the
general student population. These services include a writing center, a math and computer
science laboratory, a foreign language laboratory, and a counseling center.

Applicants should bear in mind that all Skidmore students must fulfill core and major
requirements of the Skidmore curriculum which represents Skidmore's definition of
a sound liberal arts education. Under a few exceptional circumstances, the College
may consider substituting a course or courses for a particular curriculum requirement.
In such instances, students talk first with the Coordinator to determine whether the
substitution request is supported by documentation. Recommendations are then sent
to the Committee of Academic Standing. There is nothing automatic in the course substitution
process, and the College holds final authority in determining degree requirements.

Students or parents who have further questions about support for students with disabilities
at Skidmore should contact the Office of Student Academic Services, at either (518)
580-8150 or Meg Hegener, Coordinator of Student Access Services, (518) 580-8161, email mhegener@skidmore.edu.